Pneumatic tire and wheel



nel:f Z3; 1930. c, K, WELCH 1,786,101

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL Filed May 7, 1923 7 sheets-sheet` 1 l 152. RESILIENT TIRES 8 .AND WHEELS.

Dec. 23, 1930. c. K. wELcH PNEUMTIC TIRE AND WHEEL Filed May 7, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1930. C K WELCH 1,786,101

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL C. K. WELCH Fi'led May 7, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ...unil

Dec. 23, 1930.

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL LVII Dec. 23, 1930. C. K. WELCH 1,786,101

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL I Filed May 7, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 5' Dec. 23, 1930,. C. K. WELCH 1,786,101

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL Y Filed May 7, 192s rr sheets-shea e LEJ Dec. 23, 1930. c. K. WELCH 1,786,101

PNEUMATIC TIRE AND WHEEL Filed May 7, 192:5 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH, GF COVENTBY, ENGLAND; ANNIE GERTBUDE WELCH AND ROLAND `WELCH ADHINISTRATORS 0F SAID CHARLES X. WELCH, DECEASED PNEUHATIC 'rma AND WHEEL Application led Iay 7, 1923, Serial No. 637,347, and in Great' Britain Hay 17, 1922.

My invention relates to pneumatic tires and wheels suitable for various vehicles such v as light andheavy motor cars, motor cycles,

pedal cycles, aeroplanes, etc. l

One of the main objects of my invention -is to reduce shock, recoil and vibration caused by or as a result of air inflated tires or wheels encountering and passing over irregularities or on obstructions on the surface along which the vehicle is travelling.

According to the main feature of this invention I provide means whereby the inflation pressure of a pneumatic tire on a vehicle wheel can be automatically reduced or lowered synchronously with the flexing of the tire induced by varying unevenness or irregularity of the surface of the road over which the tire travels. The said means may comprise a secondary air chamber which is generally mounted on and carried by thc vehicle wheel and is normally inflated to the same pressure as that in the tire, communication between the tire and the chamber being through a passage which is so controlled that air can be thrust or injected from the tire due to flexing of the latter and reserved or stored in the said chamber .which therefore automatically becomes a reservoir in relation to the tire itself. The said chamber may therefore be regarded as an autogenous or automatically lconstituted reservoir and throughoutthe specication the chamber is mostly referred to as a reservoir. When the wheel is at rest, the air in the tire and the air in the reservoir will be in a state of equilibrium, and theoretically when the wheel is revolving with the tire in contact with a flat surface the air in the tire and the reservoir should be in equilibrium. In practice, however, this state of equilibrium is not likely to exist mainly for the reason that truly flat road surfaces are not met with.

The control of the air flow between the tire and the secondary chamber to enable the latter to become automatically a reservoir in relation to the tire, may be effected byv restricting means such as a very fine opening or orifice, in the nature of a bleed hole, the size of which may vary according to thereapacity of the tire or the normal inflation pressure therein, or the results desired. The communicating passage may be controlled or .regulated by a valve or other devices, the

general effect or operation of the restricting means being such that the air is thrust or injected from the tire into thereservcir more or less freely,lwhereas the return of the air from the reservoir to the tire is slower or retarded. Therefore, the flexing of the tire when travelling over more or less uneven surfaces will cause air to be automatically trans ferred or injected from the tire through the restricting means into the said secondary chamber wherein the transferred or injected air tends to be retained, so that portions of air are reserved or stored in the chamber which therefore as aforesaid automatically becomes a reservoir relatively to the tire, the mean pressures of the air in the tire and the chamber or reservoir perpetually or continuously varying synchronously with the varying conditions of the road surface. The more violent the flexing of the tire the higher the mean pressures in the reservoir with corre spondingly lower pressures in the tire. The rapidityv with which the injections of air from the tire into the reservoir takes place is an important factor in the storing or reserving of the air in the reservoir and in the raising of the mean pressures of the air in the lreservoir relatively to the pressures in the tire. The air injected from the tire into the reservoir at high speeds through the restricting means or resistance device cannot always return to the tire at the same rate; therefore the pressures of the air in the reservoir will be raised to approximately the maximum pressures or thrusts of the strongest or most violent injections of air into the reservoir induced b the flexing of the tire when passing over t e highest crests or obstacles on the road. It will be understood that with a series of air vinjections in rapid succession, the air will not have time to return `between each impulse or injection; the reserve of air transferred to the reservoir may return to the tire at varying speeds while the wheel is travelling over a series of smallerwave crests or concavities as the case may be, thus creating for a period a continuous pressure between tire and the reservoir is automaticalf e can only take place when flexing of the tire I stricting or retarding the return ceases. l l

n The aforesaid restricting means for resisting the flow of air may comprise a movable member (s ring controlled Vor otherwise) which may Ihe moved by the transfer of air from the tire to the reservoir to allow the air to flow through lorifices or openings of a certain area and which canbe moved by the return of the transferred air so as to reduce the area of the said orifices or openings by closingone or more of the latter thereby reof the air from `the reservoir to the tire. For this purpose I may provide a valve in the form of a disc having a small openin or openings and adapted to open a num er of o enings through which air fiows from the tire into the reservoir and to close the same whenthe air returns to the tire'so that the return flow takes place only through the small opening or openings in the disc valve` Instead of providin -a dise valve` I may provide a valve in the o rm of a fluted cylinder so that the air in passing from' the tire to the reservoir may flow along the flutings or grooves in the cylinder into the reservoir, but upon the flow of air taking l lace in the other direction, the fluted cylin er or valve is moved against a suitable seating so Athat the air only passes into the tire through a small or restricted bore or hole in the said cylinder or valve to ive the desired resistance. In another mo ification the valve may be in the form of a ball which is displaced from a seating around the air passage by the air travelling from the tire to the reservoir, which ball valve is moved in the opposite direction by the return flow ofthe air or by a spring to close the said air assage so that the return flow takes place t rough a small orifice or bleed hole, adjacent to `the said seating. Various other forms of valves may be provided to permit ofmore or less free but resisted slow flow of air lin one direction and a more retarded flow in the opposite direction. In modifications of my invention I may dispense with the valve between the reservoir and the inner tube and employ instead an orifice forming an equal resistance passagek in both directions which orifice or passage may be made adjustable if desired.` Or I may fit in any suitable place in the connecting passage between the tire and the reservoir, a device that will by reason of its forof any suitable shape and 'dangerous in some 'cases mation allow air to than the other.

In carrying out my invention I may use arched pneumatic` tire covers rovided with inextensible edges similar to tiiose described in the specification of my English Patent pass more freely one way i N o. 14,563 of 1890 and other patents, either with or without modification. In particular I may use the type of tire cover having inextensible ed es, which is now known as the partition or member is formed between the mf terior of the tire and the interior of the reseri voir, which partition is generally but not always constituted by the wheel rim, and may contain or be connected to the passage establishing communication between the tire and the reservoir. t

I may form annular air reservoirs integral` ly with the rims by welding or otherwise securing approximately U-shaped or other endless sections of steel or other metal on the inner circumference of the rim, and the rim or the reservoir" may be madewith flanges.` I may in some cases make the `reservoir integrally with the hubs-of the wheelsa'nd connect them to the tires by suitable connections or air passages. The reservoirs need not be of endless or annular form, but may be made detachable if required. Moreover inextensible rubber tubes vvoir in relation to the tire is such, that a ri 'd or chambers may be fitted within the wheels.

My invention is particularly suitable in connection with large pneumatic tires (now often referred to as `giant tires) for hea vehicles. These tires are obviously made arge in transverse section in order to provide aV wide tread surface in contact with Ithe road and as now made, are proportionally deep internally for the purpose of obtaining the desired cushion of air. They are however owing to the deep drop occasioned by sudden deflation. By my invention, in addition to the, advantages above described, I may avoid or considerably reduce this danger by providinlg a convexity or annular projection within t e tire -which may be formed by the. periphery of an annu-I lar metal reservoir projecting beyond and between'the edges of the tire cover towards drop to the extent of the distance between the crown of the tire and the said convexity, a further advantage being that the edges of the cover would not be so liable to damage. Flanges in conjunction with locking rings may be provided on the reservoir for securing the cover but any suitable or usual means may be employed for this purpose. In a modification I may keep the reservoir below the whole available space within the wheels.-

In a further modification applicable to various types and sizes ofwheels I may place incompressible reservoirs within the base of the inner tubes and I may extend the reser.- voirs to any desired depth within the wheels.

" -`In building wheels according to this invention the metal portions of the wheels proper may form jackets or containers within which expansible or inexpansible air tight rubber tubes forming the air reservoirs may be fitted. Or I may in some cases line these jackets or containers with suitable,thin metal to make them air tight so that they serve as the reservoirs.

In a further modification I may construct expansible chambers with reinforced rubber tubes, diaphragms, or a series of such diaphragms collapsed by suitable springsa;

strong enough to resist the pressure of air within the inner tube of the tire. Such chambers may be fitted with the various devices herein described and may take the place of rigid reservoirs or other chambers of large dimensions- The spring devices can be made adjustable.

In some cases thebeads or edges of the tire cover may be of different diameters and the rim of which such a tire is fitted may be slightly coned to suit the different diameters, this construction being particularly applicable in the case of straight sided tires which are held on the rim by means of detachable flanges.

The various constructions and arrangements of the reservoirs constitute important features of the invention, and I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings several different designs comprising novel features. Generally stated, the capacity of the reservoir should be as large as possible within the limited space available in or on the wheels and to give the best results the reservoirs should have a capacity approximating that of the tire. For ordinary motor car wheels the reservoirs must be as light in weight 'as possible and therefore must be circular or approximately circular in cross section in order to conform to the natural tendency of air under pressure otherwise the pressure of air would distort the reservoir and render it liable to burst. In order to obtain the maximum air capacity available with a reservoir of this formation, I place it as closel as convenient for fitting within the inner si e of the rim and in a-position to occupy space on each side of the track line or vertical plane of the tire, so that it will be clear of the brake drum (and the heat generated by the brake) or the steering mechanism whilst it does not project at theoutside of the wheel where it would be liable to damage due to contact with curbs or other obstacles or would be in the way when attaching or detaching the tire. Such arrangements are of considerable importance in producing an efficient and practical design suitable for most types of motor car wheels. The means for connecting the reservoirs to the tires and the different constructions of the restricting means as hereinafter described are also important features of my invention.

In order that the invent-ion may be clearly yunderstood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawin s in which igures l and 2 are respectively a fragmentary sectional view and a fragmentary front view (partially in section) of one con'- struction of a wheel with one embodiment of the invention applied thereto. j

Figure 3 is a sectional detail View of one construction of valve or restricting device for affording the desired resistance.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of another construction of the improved wheel.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of details employed in the modification shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a modified construction of reservoir which can be used in the modification shown in Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of wheel in which the reservoir forms part of the wheel rim the top half of this figure showing the restricting valve mechanism in section and the lower half showing the connection for the inflating valve.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another construction of wheel in which the reservoir is fitted partly within the tire.

Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a fragmentary sectional vieW and fragmentary front view of one construction in which spring devices are associated with the reservoir.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional View vof another construction in' which the rcseral views illustrating the invention applied in two waysto two constructions of whe fitted with `giant tires.

Figures 16 and 17 are sectional detail views ofV modified' restricting valves.

Figures 18, 19, 20, and 22 are sectional views of different forms of restricting devices which may be used insteadof valves.

Fig. .2l-is an end view of Fig. 22.

Throughout the various figuresillustrated in the drawings, A generally indicates the pneumatic tire, B the wheel rim, C the air reservoir and D generally indicates the restricting device or means of resistance which is interposed between the pneumatic tire A and the reservoir C.

Referring more particularly'to the example illustrated in Flgure 1 the wheel is of the single disc type, the disc E being secured to a flange on the wheel hub in any suitable or Vusual. manner, for example by bolts E', the

outer part of the disc having attached thereto in any suitable or usual manner, the rim B which as shown in this figure is adapted to receive the well known form of straight sidedx tire cover A which is retained in position by a split detachable flange ring B fitting in a circumferential groove formed at one edge of the wheel rim. The reservoir C which is of annular formation and circular cross section is constructed of two metal .portions welded or otherwise secured together, the reservoir so formed being retained radially and concentrically within the rim B by means of a rubber, leather or otherpacking ring Cz or the like secured between the reservoir C andthe rim B by small bolts Ca attached to the rim and having securing nipples or nuts as shown in Figure 1. A coned rlng C forming a dust shield) is secured to the wheel hub and engages with the reservoir C as shown. The aforesaid valve or means of resistance D is connected to the inner tube a of the tire A by a metal pipe D which is connected by a suitable 'union to a tube' D2 extending through a sleeve Welded or similarly secured in the reservoir C, the connection of the 'tube D2 to the inner tube being effected in any appropriate manner to produce an airtight joint. The connection of the valve D to the reservoir C is effected by a metal pipe D3 which by means of any suitable union or the like is attached to a flanged tube D* welded and riveted necting pi to the reservoir C. The valve as shown in FigureV 3 comprises two interfitted members D5 and D". secured together by a coupling sleeve D1 and connected respectively to the tire connecting pipe D and the reservoir con- D. The member Dl5 is formed with a series of passages D9. branching from a central passage D8 all of which passages terminate at the inner-face of the member D5 which face forms a seatingv for a disc valve or diaphragm d havin a small central opening d' that registers with the 'central passage Ds and with a central passage D10 in the member D". The passage -D1o may berestricted by means of a perforated plug d10 which may be formed as shown in Flgure 18 to provide Y resistance to air flow. The said disc valve d is capable of slight axial movement so as to be moved into or out of contact with the seating formed by the inner face of the member Di as hereinafter described. VIn this example Y is on the tire or not. .When however the y wheel with its tire is in motion the balance of the air between the reservoir and the inner tube of the tire will be automatically and incessantly altered by reason of the tire encountering various obstacles, pot-holes, or other road irregularities so that when the tire is influenced by any irregularity oreven a slight undulation a small amount of air is .forced or transferred from the tire through the passages Da and D and past the disc valve d (which is therefore moved away from itsseating) into the resi-stance passage Dw and then to the reservoir C through the pipe Ds thus automatically reducing the inflation pressure of the tire.

As the road irregularities decrease andthe exin'g of the tire becomes less the air is allowed to flow from the reservoir into the tire and in so .doing the air issuing from the passage D10 causqs the disc valve to be forced against its seating thus closing all the passages D leaving only the central passage Ds open into which latter the air flows through the restricted opening in the disc valve so as to pass into the tire through the pipe D1. In this manner the return flow of the displaced air is automatically effected but 'it is re- .Y

tarded or resisted, thus preventing recoil and generally improving the cushioning effect. The restoration of the normal inflation pressure in the tire will only take place-when the tire is at rest and the flexing movement ceases.

The modication shown in Figure 4 is somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 1 so far as the position of the reservoir C in relation to the rim B is concerned and where possible the same indicating referencesA are used to denote corresponding or similar parts. In this example the reservoir C comprises a flexible but inextensible jacket or cover (similar to an ordinary pneumatic tire outer cover) surroundlng an inner tube c, the cover or Jacketl and the lnner tube c when connecting the pipes.

being fitted in a supplementary rim c having a detachable spl1t flange 02 similar to the rim and flange used with the ordinary straight sided cover as shown at A. The supplementary rim c is supported on an extension orconed ring ca which is clamped with the wheel disc E to the hub flange by the securing bolts E. A detachable dust shield or cover C is fitted to the hub and adapted to bear at its outer peripher against the detachable flange ring c2 of t e supplementary rim c. The outer portion of the inextensible cover of the reservoir C is moulded or provided with a circumferential ridge C21 to bear against the inner circumferential surface of the rim B. In this example the restricting device or means of resistance D0 is fitted to the wheel disc E and is combined or associated with an inflating valve C11 preferably of the Schrader type so that air may be pumped into the tire inner tube a through the pipe D11 and into the inner tube c of the reservoir C through the pipe D51. In this example the pipe D11 is screwed and soldered into a plug or stem D21 of the internal shape shown which is clamped to the tire inner tube a and to the rim B by securing and locking nuts as shown in Figure 6. This method of connecting the pipe D11 to the inner tube of the tire is of considerable importance as it affords specialv facility for manipulating the securing nuts which clamp the stem D21 to the inner tube, and the same method is employed for connecting the pipe D11 to the inner tube c of the reservoir C. Each pipe D11 and D11 as shown in Figure 4 is provided With a union shown in section in Figure 7 for facilitating connection of the said pipes to the valve D0 which pipes may be coiled as shown in Figure 1, to permit of adjustment The valve D0 in this example comprises two members D51 and D51 (see Figure 5) which are screwed together and secured to the wheel disc E by a securing nut D71. The tire connecting pipe D11 and the reservoir connecting pipe D11 are connected to the member D51 as shown. The member D01 is adapted tov receive the inflating valve C11 and at its inner end contains the disc valve or diaphragm d0 which is provided with a small central opening 11 in register with the central passage D101 in the member D51. The central opening d in the disc valve d0 also registers with a central opening D01 formed in a plug 1301 screwed into the member D01 and adapted to form a seating for the disc Valve as hereinafter described. The central opening D01 in the said seating establishes communication between the passage D101 and a passage D81 in the member D51 leading to the tire connecting pipe D11 and the said passage D101 is provided with branch passages D111 for establishing communication with a passage D121 in the member D51 leading to the reservoir connecting ipe D11. When inflating the tireV and suppliying air to the reservoir, air passes through t e passage D101 and flows through the branch passages D111 into the reservoir connecting pipe D11 and also issues from the end of the passage D101 so as to flow through the opening d in the disc valve d0 thence through the opening D01 into the pipe D11 leadmg to the tire and it will be understood th'at normally the air pressures in the tire and the reservoir are in equilibrium. When the balance of the air pressures is upset by the tire encountering road irregularities as hereinbefore described a small amount of air is forced :trom the tire through the pipe D11 so as to flow through and past the disc valve d0 into the assage D101 from which it passes into the pipe D51 leadin to the interior of the reservoir C. The isplaced air when permitted to return to the tire flows through the passage D101 and in issuing therefrom forces the disc valve d0 against its seating so that the air can only flow through the restricted central openin d11 in the disc valve in returning to the tire t rough the opening D91 and the connecting pipe D11; in this manner the return of the air to the tire is retarded or resisted for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. Instead ofusing an inextensible flexible jacket or cover as part of the receiver as shown in Figure 4 a rigid jacket or cover as shown in Figure 8 may be employed for surrounding an inner tube c. This jacket may be made of steel, copper, aluminium, or other metal shaped like a pneumatic tire cover with bead portions reinforced by a series of endless wires or a coiled Wire, these edges being'retained on a supplementary rim c as shown in Figure 4.

The wheel illustrated in Figure 9 is substantially different in general construction and design from that illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 4 and in this example the reservoir C* is constituted by a metal chamber formed ot two halves suitably welded and secured together at the inner circumference and also Welded 0r otherwise secured to the rim B which in this example may be adapted to receive an ordinary Wired-on tire A as shown. The restricting valve or resistance means is mounted in the said reservoir or hollow rim the various parts being housed in a casing D welded or similarly secured to the sides of the reservoir.` The inner tube a of the tire is connected by a tube D1 screwed in an L-shaped passage. DS* in a plug or block D5 which is maintained against one side of a perforated abutment in the casing D by a screwed plug or the like D1". A plug D1 is also screwed in the casing DX against the other side of the abutment and it contains a valve seating d5* having a series of apertures D0x as shown. A disc valve d having a central opening d1* is mounted on an adjustable screw d2* formed with a coned point for adi justing the central passage or opening D9* 'in vthe seating df. The plug D0* is formed with an openinfr or openings D10* which register with openings lD3x leading into the interior of the reservoir C". The ends of the valve casing Dx may be closed by readily removable screw plugs as shown. The tire 1s 1nfiated by any suitable type of valve which may be supported in a-casing combined with a valve cap and dust cover fixed in the side of passes more or less freely through the passage D8* and all the openings D9x so as to flow past the disc valve d* thence through the openings Dm" land D into the reservoir. vThe retarded or resisted return ofthe air is elected by reason of the disc valve d* being forcedv against its seating so as to close the openings Dx with the exce tion of the central one which registers wit the central opening d1* in the disc valve and through which the air is allowed to pass into the passage DE* whence it passes into the inner vtube a.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 10 the reservoir 0 instead of being arranged j ing valve C.

wit-hin the inner circumference of the rim is disposed on the outer side of the rim so that it 1s partially .contained within `the tire A. In this example the` rimis made divisible and one bead seating B is formed at the periphery of a disc E0 secured to or forming part of theawheel hub whilst the other bead seating B1o is formed on a detachableV flange which together with a suitable part of the wheel disc E forms a rim channelsemi-circularin cross section to receive the reservoir C". The reservoir maybe constructed asan endless metal tube so as to form an incompressible rigid partition between the interior of the inner tube a and the interior of the reservoir, the inner tube surrounding the reservoir as shown. The connection between`the interior of the inner tube and the interior of the reservoir is effected by means of a pipe or tube D1 which at its inner end is secured to an inflat- The outer end of the tube D1a makes a sliding fit in a boss or internal projection on the reservoir and it is. rovided at Y its outer end with a screw plug 2 having a restricted or resisting bore or passage D92. The pipe D1c also contains a centrally bored valve ds in the form of a luted cylinder similar to that shown iny Figure 16 whichV upon the air beingtransferred from the tire due to irregularities in or on the road surface, is held away from its seating formed by the plug d" so that the air may flow along the flutings` into the central passage D80 in the pipe D Vbore d10 of the iluted valve ds and into the restricted or resisting passage D92 leading into the 'inner tube a.- The convex portion ofv the reservoir C0 projecting into the outer cover may be reinforced or extended to any desired extent but it need only be of light construction owing to the fact that it is only subjected to the diierence of pressure which may exist between the air in the reservoir and the air in the tire.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a construction 1n which a reservoir is acted upon or compressed by spring means. -The reservoir C*s is shown as comprisin a iexible, but inextensible cover or jacket aving wired edges and surroundin an inner tube c", the reservoir so formed in g supported in a supplementary rim c secured to the wheel disc E", which is bolted at E to the hub1 flange and carries a rim B". The tire A5 'shown in this example is of the beaded edge type but any other kind of tire ma be used. At one or more positions around t e wheel the reservoir is compressed by a spoon shaped'plunger F which is under the iniluence of a compression. sprin F bearing at its outer end against an adjustable abutment F2 in the form of a nut and lock nut threaded on a screw stem Fa fixed to the .wheel rim B,

For the purpose of preventing lateral dis-` secured to the inner side of the wheel by being screwed to the supplementary rim c,

so as to bear against the edge of the rim Bl as shown. In this example an air resisting devlce combined wlth an iniiatlon valve as shown in Figure 5 may be secured to the wheel disc E at the position indicated at D1 in Figure'12, the resisting valve being connected to the pipes D15 and D leading to' the tire and the reservoir respectively as hereinbefore described with reference to the example shown in lFigures 4, 5 and 6. In the case of two or more spring controlled plungers F being provided, they are arranged around the Wheel to balance each other, so as to prevent the wheel from being unequally weighted. A- modified construction comprising a spring influenced reservoir orair receiving chamber is illustrated in Figure 13, lwhich again shows a disc Wheel having a rim Bs and a detachable flange B for use with a straight sided tire A". At one ormore positions around the wheel a comparatively small rubber container or reservoir C reinforced with canvas or the like is clamped between the parts of a bi-part casing G secured to the wheel disc E", thek said reservoir being free and flexible at one side so as to form a kind of diaphragm which is under the influence of a plunger F acted upon by aspring F1e housed in the ycasing G as shown. The strength yof the spring or s rings F16 may vary to suit different con itions and air pressures, and may be adjustable if desired. The said container or reservoir C6 may be connected to the inner tube a of the tire by plug D2 and pipes D1m and D36 which are connected to a resisting device diagrammatica-lly indicated at D61 and preferably the said restricting valve or device is combined with an inflating valve as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pipe D161 and D36 being connected to the inner tube, and the reservoir as shown in Figure 6. If more than one spring influenced reservoir be employed they would be arranged around the Wheel in such positions as to balance each other, and the reser voirs would be connected so that only one resisting device De1 and one inflating valve C42 need be employed. Spring devices,par ticularly of the kind shown in Figure 13, may be employed in conjunction with any form or size of flexible reservoir in order to afford additional elasticity.

Any suitable arrangement comprising a number of reservoirs or air receivers may be employed and such may be interconnected or .independent and connected to the tire in any appropriate manner and if desired spring means may be associated with the reservoirs or the like.

- The rim Bs in Figure 13 is slightly coned in the direction shown and the outer bead of the tire cover may be of slightly less diameter than the inner bead so that the two beads. make a proper fit on the slightly coned rim. This arrangement facilitates the attachment and removal of the tire and also partly compensates for the cant of the steering wheels, whilst it also assists in preventing lateral displacement of the driving wheel tires when taking excessive curves. This particular arrangement of tire cover and coned rim may be employed in any construction of wheel.

Figures 14 and 15 show examples of the invention applied to wheels fitted with giant tires and they also illustrate a reservoir extending from the rim to the hub. In the example shown in Figure 14, the reservoir is constituted by an arch-sectioned member which is welded or otherwise secured to a sleeve so as to form an airtight chamber,

the said chamber being detachably fitted on the wheel hub E2, and retained in position by studs E3 engaging with recessed bosses on the reservoir and by a nut E4 at the outer end of the hub. The outer part of the reservoir is formed with integral rim flanges B7 on which the beads of the tire cover A7 are seated and retained by endless flanged rings B2 in conjunction with split rings Bs which latter fit in grooves at the edges of the rim flanges B1. An annular rojection or convexity is provided around t e reservoir CT so as'to be positioned within the tire and in the example shown the projection may be in the form of a solid rubber tire H on a metal foundation band H which may be'retained in the central position by any suitable means which may be interposed between the tire beads and the edges of the foundation band. As shown the inner tube al is adapted to fit around the convexity or projection formed by the solid tire which projection serves to prevent the tire from being collapsed on the rim in the event of unrequired deflation and also to reducethe drop as hereinbefore explained. At any suitable position on the reservoir C7, for example, as indicated at D7', a combined air resisting device and inflation valve generally similar to that shown in Figure 5, may be fitted, the resisting device being connected to the inner tube by a pipe D17 so that communication is established between the inner tube A7 and the interior of the reservoir, the resisting device in this case is such that a reservoir connecting pipe D37 such as employed in certain of the previous examples need not be employed. The pipe D17 may be clamped to the inner tube by a projection or head D27 on the end of this pipe and a securing nut bearing against a flange H2 screwed or otherwise secured to the foundation band H of the rubber tire or convexity H. Instead of employing an annular pro- `jection or convexity such as H the reservoir C" may be so formed as to project beyond the rim flanges B7 into the tire space as shown in Figure 15. The constructional features in this example are generally similar to those described in connection with Figure 14 and the saine references are used to denote corresponding parts. In this example, however, the reservoir is provided with an inner tube cg, the reservoir casing may be detachably retained on a sleeve surrounding the hub E2 by a split security ring E5 'and a nut E, the sleeve itself being retained on the hub by a nut E4. v

Various forms of resisting devices may be employed in connection with any ofthe examples illustrated, and two modifications of restricting valves are shown on an enlarged scale in Figures 16 and 17. In Figure 16, the valve proper is constituted by a centrally bored cylinder als whose external surface is fluted, as hereinbefore referred to with reference to Figure 10 this valve being slidable in a casing D181 to which if desired connecting pipes D18 and D3S leading to the tire and the reservoir respectively may be attached. lVhen air is transferred from the tire to the reservoir the fluted valve (Z8 isdisplaced so that air flows along the flutings and through the central bore d but when the air returns from the reservoir to the tire the valve is .moved against the seating d68 so that the air Dso in the valve seating de leading to the tirel and when the air is transferred from the tire the ball valve is forced away from its seating so that the air passes through the central passage D89 and also through an additional opening D99" so as to flow through the passage leading to the reservoir, for example,

through a pipe D3. Upon the air flowing in the return direction, the balll valve is n stead of or in addition to employing movable moved to engage with its seatingand thus closes the passage D8 so that the air can only flow through the restricted opening D9 into the connection D10 lead-ing to the tire. In-

valves vsuch as hereinbefore referred to, I may provide a resisting device which by reason of its formation allows air to passV more freely in one direction than the other.

One example of such a device is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figure 18. The arrow X represents the direction of flow of air from the tire to the reservoir, and the arrow Y indicates the direction of the air flow from the reservoir to the tire; d" indicates the resisting device which'is placed in any suitable position -in the passage between theV tire and the reservoir whilst d1 represents the specially formed passagewhich at one end terminates in a perforated cone to form a restricted opening and by reason of this construction air can flow more freely in the direction of the arrow `X than in the other direction indicated by the arrow Y. Figure 19 shows on an enlarged scale a modified form of resisting device which is in the form of a flanged dome d -provided with restricted apertures D and D99 (which may be unequal'as shown or equal) leading into a central opening im as shown. In this case the l arrow X represents the direction of air flow from the tire to the reservoir and it will be understood that the air passes into the central opening im and through both the said apertures. The arrow Y represents the direction of the air flow from the reservoirl to the tire, and owing to the shape of the device d" a small restricted passage is formed around therestricted apertures D88 and D9 Vthrough which the 'air flows to the tire. In

some cases a device which affords an equally restricted or resisting passage or opening in both directions may be provided, and an example of such device is shewn in Figure 20 which comprises a disc d having a small -central perforation Z133 which disc may bev disposed in any suitable position between the tire and the reservoir. A device of this character maybe adjustable so as to vary the size of the restricted or resisting opening as 'may be required and an example of such an arrangement is shown iii-Figures 21 and 22 in'v which aplug d having an opening d is With regard to the size of the air passage i between the tire and the reservoir the drawings show connecting pipes with a bore of about th inch. Considering the amount of air that passes in practice between the tire and the reservoir, a pi e with 116th inch bore may be regarded as t e minimum free pas'- sage and-.any means introduced into the con'- necting pipe or passage having the eiect of yretarding the passage of air may be considered as a restricted assage for the purpose of this invention. or example, inV connection with a tire 32 inches by 4% inches, a .O41 inch hole forms aresisting means which gives satisfactory results, but in some respects better resultsare obtained with a .025 inch hole. The arrangement may be such that the air passes from the tire to the reservoir through say a .041 inch hole or o ning and returns from the reservoir to this tire .through a smaller opening.v Theabove sizes for the re-4 stricted passa-ges are given by way of example, and larger or smaller lopenings may be used so long as the desiredmeans of resistance is provided. With different sizes of tires' the Vrestricted assages or resisting .means may vary accor ng tothe air capacity of the tire.

The device interposed in the connection between the tire and the reservoir may be termed a timed or differential device since if the tire is suddenly flexed to cause a sudden injection of air into the container, means are provided comprising bleed holes or vents to allow the air to returnlater and so. prevent re-.coil. It is obvious that the larger the bleed holes or hole, the .fasterthe return of the air to the tire will takeplace, and conversely,-

the smaller the holes, the slower the return of the air to the tire willbe. Therefore, it is necessary. in construct' .the device to con'- duct physical tests in or er to determine the size of the passage or resistance Vthat will give the desired-length of time necessary the return of the air to the tire, in order to get the best all around or practical results. These, of course, vary with the size of the lll for.`

tire, the capacit of the reservoirs and the load to be carrie It will be understood that the invention ma be carried out in many different w'ys an applied to various types of wheels. e wheels illustrated are generally intended for motor vehicles, and it will be understood that suitable constructions may be devised with wire spokes, wood spokes, tubular spokes or other members between the hub and rim. Wheels having the invention applied thereto may be designed for pedal bicycles, motor cycles and the like. The invention ma lbe applied to the ground wheels of aircra in which case it is particularly advantageous as it prevents excessive recoil when the aircraft lands.

`What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A pneumatic tire having in combination a container, a conduit communicatin with said container and adapted to be attac ed to and to communicate with the interior of the tire, and a iiow restrictor in said conduit so arranged that air may pass more readily from the tire to the container, than from the con- .tainer to the tire.

2. The combination with a wheel adapted to carry a pneumatic tire, of a container carried by said wheel, a conduit communicating with said container and adapted to be attached to the tire, and a flow restrictor in said conduit arranged so that air may pass more readily from the tire to the container, than from the container to the tire.

3. The combination with a wheel, of a pneumatic tire on said wheel, a container carried by said wheel, a conduit connecting the interiors of the tire and the container, and a iow restrictor in said conduit arran ed so that air may pass more readil from t e tire to the container, than from t e container to the tire.

4. The combination with a wheel adapted to carry a pneumatic tire, of a container carried by said wheel, a conduit communicating with said container and ada ted to be attached to the said tire, and a disc having a small aperture located in and across the said conduit.

5. The combination with a wheel adapted to carry a pneumatic tire of a container carried by said wheel, a conduit communicating with said container and adapted to be attached to the tire, and means whereby the air flow in said conduit can be varied, said means including an a ertured disc located in and across said con uit.

6. The combination with a wheel, a pneumatic tire on said wheel, a container carried by said wheel, a conduit connectingthe in- `terior of said tire and the container, a member having a restricted opening mounted in sald conduit, and means coactxng with said member whereby the air may pass more :freeto the tire from the container than from l the container to the tire.

7. The combination with a wheel adapted to carry a pneumatic tire, of a container carried by said wheel, a conduit communicating with said container and adapted to be attached to the tire, a disc having a small aperture movably mounted in and across said conduit, and seatings in said conduit with which saiddisc cooperates for enabling air to pass more readily from the tire to the contalner, than from the container to the tire.

8. The combination with a wheel adapted to carry a pneumatic tire, of a container carried by said wheel, a conduit communicating with said container and adapted to be attached to the tire, a disc having a small aperture movably mounted in and across said conduit, and a seating having openings in communication with said conduit against which seating the disc can be pressed to close said openings and to provide a restricted pas-- sage for the 'low of air in one direction, the disc being movable away from the said openings when air flows in the opposite direction to permit the air to flow more freely.

CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH. 

